VeriSign’s “.cc” Domain Empire Built on Scam and Abuse

The Shocking Truth About the “.cc” Domain

In a startling revelation, it has emerged that VeriSign, a massive company responsible for managing the back-end systems of much of the internet, sold the domain “.cc” to unscrupulous businesses, allowing them to profit from scams and child sexual abuse material.

The Rise of Phishing Attacks

The “.cc” domain, once intended to expand global connectivity, has become synonymous with phishing attacks and online fraud. By 2010, it was hosting twice as many phishing attacks as any other extension. Google even took the rare step of blocking the “.co.cc” domain in 2011 after a Korean company purchased the rights from VeriSign.

A Haven for Illegal Activities

But that’s not all. The domain has also become a haven for websites hosting images of child sexual abuse, according to James Mortensen, a research fellow at the Australian National University’s National Security College. “It’s a very cheap domain that doesn’t require much information, not much oversight,” he said. “It’s a really easy place to do unscrupulous business.”

The Australian Government’s Responsibility

The UK’s Internet Watch Foundation listed “.cc” as the tenth most abused TLD in 2019 for child sexual abuse material, and it was in the top five in 2016. Despite this, VeriSign claims they don’t own the domain and can’t be held responsible.

Experts Call for Action

Experts are calling for the Australian government to take responsibility and regulate or reclaim the “.cc” domain. Dr Mortensen points out that France successfully reclaimed its Antarctic territory’s TLD in 2004, and Australia can do the same.

• The rate at which VeriSign takes down websites from its registry list is not enough, according to Dr Mortensen.
• VeriSign only removes websites upon request, which means it often responds slowly to requests to take down illegal content.

The Australian Government’s Response

The Australian government has been contacted for comment, and a spokesperson said any concerns about breaches of Australian laws in the management of the “.cc” domain should be directed to the Australian Federal Police and eSafety Commissioner.

Conclusion

VeriSign’s “.cc” domain empire is built on scam and abuse. It’s time for Australia to take responsibility and reclaim this digital real estate.